My starter failed Saturday so I looked around and found a reman for $181.43 plus core at Autozone. The Jag dealer wanted over $700.00 for a Reman plus core and that was just the Starter. So I picked up the AZ starter and climbed under to see what I had to squeeze myself into to get the old one out.

Just what I expected no room to get that last top bolt out of the housing and barely any room to turn a wrench. It became apparent that I needed something more than a 13mm box end. What would work is a 13 mm box end crescent shaped short wrench, which is nowhere to be found except on the back of the SnapOn truck. So I made one out of a new Duralast $8.00 straight box end and a torch. I finally removed that bolt and pulled my starter out... in pieces. Look here if the pics don't attach.. may be to big. BTW, don't strip the top blind bolt trying to get it off, if you do I am sure the motor will at least need to be pulled up about 6 - 9 inches and the exhaust manifold pulled to get to the bolt.

My starter shaft bearing disintegrated inside the starter and left about 20 mangled pieces of bearing and retainer. When I pulled the starter the shaft remained inside the bell housing. Anyhow have a look at the pics. The first pic is a link to a webshots album with more pics.

 

Looks nasty, next time it goes (and from my experience with Autozone reman starters it likely will) take a look in your area for a starter/alternator rebuild shop. My local shop charges $125 for rebuilding yours or replacing it (if they have one in stock). They use quality parts (i.e. not from China, India or the like). Biggest downside is you need to take yours out and take it in but usually turn around is that day or the next.

 

My experience with these starters is they all are Denso products, even the one I pulled out. I bought this car with 60k on the odometer, so I doubt the oem starter was replaced and if it was it would have been under warranty and done at the Jag dealer. The starter in the pic is a denso as well as the AZ starter.

IDK, They all fail, but I never saw one come out in pieces.